The Future of Convenience

Hosted by Global Convenience

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Sep 2026

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About the show

The Future of Convenience podcast explorea cutting-edge strategies and global insights from convenience retailers and experts worldwide. Discover the latest innovations shaping the future of convenience and mobility in retail through foodservice, mobility, design, and more. The Future of Convenience podcast is produced by Global Convenience. Learn more at https://www.globalconvenience.com.

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60 recent

October 13, 202630 min

Mariette Kristenson on Reitan's Balance of Foodvenience, Automation, and the Human Touch

Mariette Kristenson, CEO of Reitan Convenience, which operates roughly 1,500 stores across seven countries in the Nordics and Baltics, shares how food and convenience have driven a decade of growth even as traditional categories decline, and how Reitan has experimented with unmanned stores, vending, and new store formats along the way. With special guest: Mariette Kristenson, CEO, Reitan Convenience Hosted by: Dan Munford and Matt Redwood

September 29, 202634 min

Foodservice Industry Veteran Jennifer Dodd on Authenticity as the Real Growth Engine

Food and beverage expert Jen Dodd, CEO and board advisor of Main Squeeze Juice Co., explains what separates thriving food businesses from those that struggle to keep pace with a changing customer. Dodd, who has led brands including Wendy's, Dunkin', Tim Hortons, and the Melting Pot over a career spanning more than three decades, shares why authenticity, a disciplined hero product strategy and smart use of technology matter more than ever as convenience and food service continue to merge into foodvenience. With special guest: Jennifer Dodd, CEO and Board Advisor, Main Squeeze Juice Co. Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare and Harry Milloff

September 15, 202631 min

Joe Boyle on FreshStop's Food-First Growth in South Africa

Joe Boyle, CEO of FreshStop in South Africa, tells how the retailer grew from a small produce department into a food-led convenience brand operating more than 340 stores across South Africa, Namibia, and soon Zimbabwe. FreshStop built its own barista, fried chicken, and bakery brands from scratch when the disruption from COVID-19 became an unexpected springboard for its foodservice growth. The operational realities of running convenience stores amidst electricity and water shortages and civil unrest all make for a fascinating story! With special guest: Joe Boyle, CEO, FreshStop Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare and Harry Milloff

September 1, 202626 min

Discovering That Driving Change Beats Being Driven by It

Hear about the push to turn Germany's forecourts into multi-service destinations and how AI adoption is reshaping in-store operations across Europe as Dan Munford and co-host Christian Warning preview Forecourt Tech 2026 with Frederick Beckman, CEO of Q1 Energy, and Aart van Rooijen, CEO of BigBrother International. Learn more about forecourttech 2026 and register at https://forecourttech.com. With special guests: Frederick Beckmann, CEO, Q1 Energy nad Aart van Rooijen, CEO, BigBrother International Hosted by: Dan Munford and Christian Warning

August 18, 202626 min

ACS CEO Ed Woodall on How Retailers Can Mitigate the Retail Crime Crisis

Retail theft is not a new issue, but is indeed a global problem today. With new technology and industry collaboration, retailers can deploy smart tactics to keep their assets and employees safe. Ed Woodall, CEO of the UK’s Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), and Michael O'Loughlin of 360 Degrees Retail Limited join Dan Munford to break down why retail crime across UK convenience and forecourt sites has become one of the sector's most urgent operational challenges. With special guests: Ed Woodall, CEO, Associaiton of Convenience Stores (ACS) and Michael O'Loughlin, Managing Director of 360 Degrees Retail Limited and Pay My Fuel Hosted by: Dan Munford

August 4, 202626 min

NACS President and CEO Frank Gleeson on the Future of Convenience

NACS President and CEO Frank Gleeson shares what he has learned after seven months of traveling the U.S. meeting retailers, explaining why food service has become the single biggest driver of loyalty and footfall in convenience retail, and why he believes quick-service restaurants have real reason to worry. He also looks ahead to what comes next for the industry, from the uneven pace of the EV transition to the collaboration he is seeing take shape across markets around the world. With special guests: Frank Gleeson, President and CEO, NACS and Joe Heather, Regional General Manager - Northern Europe, Deliverect Hosted by: Dan Munford and Elaine Kanak

July 21, 202625 min

When Foodservice Stops Being Optional With Holiday Oil President Mike Wagstaff

Mike Wagstaff, president of Holiday Oil, joins hosts Carolyn Schnare and Mosely Group CEO Harry Milloff for the first of a two-part series documenting one Utah convenience retailer's deliberate move from a fuel-first business to a food-first one. Hear how peer group conversations and a frank look at fuel's uncertain future pushed Holiday Oil to stop playing defense and start building toward something more durable. With special guest: Mike Wagstaff, President, Holiday Oil Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare and Harry Milloff

July 7, 202628 min

Harry Milloff Explains What It Takes To Be an Amazing Foodvenience Store

As convenience retailers around the world push further into food, the conversation keeps circling back to one idea that foodservice is no longer a side category, it must become the engine of the entire store. Moseley Group CEO Harry Milloff digs into what convenience operators can steal from QSRs when it comes to nailing consistency and owning a hero product, along with a secret weapon: hospitality. Learn more and enter the 'Best Foodvenience in the World' competition: https://www.globalconvenience.com/best/foodvenience/ With special guest: Harry Milloff, CEO, Moseley Group Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare and Dan Munford

June 30, 202622 min

Special: The 'Smartest Store in the World' is Wumart Xueqing Road in China!

The inaugural 'Smartest Store in the World' competition revealed how AI is evolving from standalone tools into connected operating systems that are transforming convenience retail, with Wumart Xueqing Road in China earning top honors for its fully integrated approach. In this episode, hear directly from the winner on their company and on what sets them apart, why scale matters, and the technologies poised to become mainstream over the next 12 to 18 months. With special guests: Brian Gray, Accenture, and Troy Du and Marcus Spurrell, Wumart/DMALL Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare Related Links: Entry: Wumart Xueqing Road store, Beijing, China: https://www.globalconvenience.com/smart/entries/wumart-xueqing-road-store-beijing-china/ Podcast: DMALL CEO Marcus Spurrell on What the West Can Learn From China’s Agentic Commerce: https://www.globalconvenience.com/features/dmall-ceo-marcus-spurrell-explains-what-the-west-can-learn-from-chinas-agentic-commerce/ Smartest Store in the World competition: https://www.globalconvenience.com/smart/home/

June 23, 202628 min

Rachel Moses of Electrify America on Why the Charging Infrastructure Story in the U.S. Is Just Getting Started

How has the ultra-fast charging infrastructure in America matured to where the stop itself fits naturally into a driver's journey? Rachel Moses, senior director for sales, marketing and business development at Electrify America, makes the case that the U.S. EV market is growing through its headwinds, not retreating from them. Hear about regional growth patterns, the education gap, and the growing role convenience retailers are playing in building out the network nationwide. With special guest: Rachel Moses, Senior Director for Sales, Marketing and Business Development, Electrify America Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare and Dan Munford